Reflexology · Programs compared
By Valérie Fabre, Founder & Director, Harmonika Institute · Updated September 2026 · Facts as published by each provider
Reflexology certification in the U.S. is private, and state rules vary. Published programs cost about $1,350 to $2,400: Ingham Method workshops (200 hours including home study and documented sessions), the American Academy of Reflexology (128 class hours) and Atlanta School of Wellness (200 hours). The 200-hour mark matters because the ARCB requires it before its national exam. Choose by hours, method, location and exam goals.
U.S. median across 5 leading providers: $2,000 for 18 days of class. See the 2026 cost data.
| Criteria | International Institute of Reflexology (Ingham Method®) | American Academy of Reflexology (Flocco Method) | Atlanta School of Wellness: Reflexology Certification Program | Harmonika Institute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credential | Certification in the Original Ingham Method® of Reflexology (IIR exam; renewal through continuing education every 2 years) | Certificate in Integrated Foot Hand Ear Reflexology (written and practical exams, 75% pass mark) | 200-hour Reflexology Certification (built around ARCB exam eligibility) | Certified Reflexology Practitioner (CRP) |
| Format | In person: 2-day workshops in many U.S. and Canadian cities, plus home study | In person in Los Angeles, weekend blocks (Saturday-Sunday, then Friday-Sunday) | In person in Buckhead, Atlanta: 6 weekends, 10 am to 5 pm, plus 2 clinic Mondays | 100% in person, 32 U.S. cities |
| Teaching time | 200 h minimum: Phases I-III (16 h each), 52 h home study, 100 h of documented sessions with at least 15 clients | 128 h in 3 courses: 28 h (4 days) + 50 h (6 days) + 50 h (6 days), 16 days in total | 200 h: 6 weekend levels, 45 h home study and 50 client sessions | 9 days (72 hours of class) |
| Tuition | Phase I $400-450, Phase II $275-325, Phase III $375-425, exam $300-350 (about $1,350-1,550 excluding travel and books) | About $2,015-2,165 for the full path (2016 rates in the online catalogue; current rates not published) | $2,400 ($1,920 prepaid, or $400 per level; $200 to retake a level) | $3,500 |
| Accreditation | Presents itself as the school licensed to teach the original Eunice Ingham method; IIR written and practical exam (as published) | ARCB Approved Provider #00100 and NCBTMB Approved Provider (as published) | Not published; program structured around the ARCB's 200-hour eligibility requirement | Private certification, not a state license |
| Best for | Learners who want the historic Ingham method in workshops across many cities, with a high practice load | Learners in Southern California who want integrated foot, hand and ear reflexology in three courses | Learners near Atlanta who want a 200-hour path organized by body system, with flexible entry | Learners who want foot, hand and ear reflexology taught in one continuous in-person cohort |
Provider details as published on their websites in September 2026. Prices and schedules change: check with each provider.
All three schools require practice on real people. The International Institute of Reflexology asks for 100 hours of documented sessions with at least 15 clients, Atlanta School of Wellness requires 50 client sessions, and the American Academy of Reflexology teaches client history forms and measuring client progress.
The International Institute of Reflexology and Atlanta School of Wellness both reach 200 hours, the minimum the ARCB requires before its national exam. The American Academy of Reflexology totals 128 class hours and is an ARCB Approved Provider. Hours are counted differently, so compare what each total includes.
Each school prepares students to build a practice. The International Institute of Reflexology covers marketing in Phase III, the American Academy of Reflexology teaches practice building, business skills and legal and licensing questions, and Atlanta School of Wellness includes a business plan and marketing.
All three teach in person in short blocks rather than one continuous stretch. The International Institute of Reflexology runs 2-day workshops, the American Academy of Reflexology uses weekend blocks of 2 to 3 days in Los Angeles, and Atlanta School of Wellness holds 6 weekends plus 2 clinic Mondays.
The International Institute of Reflexology teaches how to give a complete Ingham session in Phase III, and the American Academy of Reflexology teaches a general integrated routine and adaptation strategies. Learning a set session sequence gives new practitioners a reliable structure before they adapt it to each client.
The International Institute of Reflexology teaches the Original Ingham Method®, focused on feet and hands. The American Academy of Reflexology integrates foot, hand and ear reflexology in every course. Atlanta School of Wellness organizes its program by body systems, from the nervous system to the endocrine, reproductive and urinary systems.
The International Institute of Reflexology runs workshops in many U.S. and Canadian cities, which suits learners who want to stay near home. The American Academy of Reflexology teaches in Los Angeles, and Atlanta School of Wellness in Atlanta, where levels can be taken in any order.
The International Institute of Reflexology makes Phase II a pure review course that can be repeated as often as needed. Atlanta School of Wellness holds clinic days as part of the program. The American Academy of Reflexology cites a randomized trial of its method published in Obstetrics & Gynecology in 1993.
Atlanta School of Wellness publishes current tuition of $2,400, with a prepaid rate of $1,920. The International Institute of Reflexology lists price ranges per phase and exam, about $1,350 to $1,550 in total. The American Academy of Reflexology's online catalogue shows 2016 rates of about $2,015 to $2,165.
Reflexology regulation varies by state. A few states, such as Washington and New Hampshire, require state certification or registration for professional reflexology. Confirm the rules where you plan to work before choosing a program.
The ARCB national exam requires at least 200 hours of training, including hands-on practice and documented sessions. If you plan to sit it, ask each school exactly how its hours count toward eligibility.
Some programs focus on the foot, while others integrate hand and ear reflexology. If you want to offer hand or ear sessions as well as foot work, look for integrated training that teaches all three maps.
Documented sessions can range from 50 sessions to 100 hours with 15 clients. Estimate how quickly you can find volunteers and how long certification will take alongside work and family.
Published tuition runs from about $1,350 to $2,400, before books, exam fees and travel. A school in your city may cost less overall than a lower-priced program that requires repeated trips.
Among the schools reviewed, the International Institute of Reflexology totals about $1,350 to $1,550 for three phases and the exam, excluding travel and books. Atlanta School of Wellness charges $2,400, or $1,920 prepaid. The American Academy of Reflexology's catalogue lists about $2,015 to $2,165, based on 2016 rates. Harmonika Institute's tuition appears in the comparison table.
The International Institute of Reflexology and Atlanta School of Wellness both require 200 hours, combining class time, home study and documented client sessions. The American Academy of Reflexology teaches 128 hours over 16 class days in three courses. Because documented client sessions are part of the requirements, certification extends well beyond the class days themselves.
The three schools reviewed teach their core technique in person, in weekend blocks, with home study between classes. Reflexology is a hands-on skill: pressure, thumb-walking and session flow are easiest to learn with an instructor correcting your technique on a partner. Home study, reading and documented sessions complement the classroom days.
Reflexology certificates from schools are private credentials. The ARCB offers a national certification exam after at least 200 hours of training, and the American Academy of Reflexology is an ARCB Approved Provider. A few states, such as Washington and New Hampshire, require state certification or registration. Harmonika Institute's Certified Reflexology Practitioner is a private certification, not a license, and holds no outside accreditation.
The American Reflexology Certification Board administers a national reflexology certification exam of 150 questions. To apply, candidates need at least 200 hours of training, including hands-on practice and documented sessions with written notes. Depending on the state, ARCB certification can be one of the routes recognized by local rules. Check the ARCB Applicant Handbook for current requirements.
It varies. The American Academy of Reflexology integrates foot, hand and ear reflexology throughout its three courses. The International Institute of Reflexology covers foot and hand assessment in Phase III. Atlanta School of Wellness organizes its program by body systems. Harmonika Institute's program includes dedicated hand and ear days, as shown in its day-by-day outline.
We selected three U.S. reflexology schools that publish a detailed curriculum and tuition: the International Institute of Reflexology for the Ingham lineage, the American Academy of Reflexology for its integrated foot, hand and ear method, and Atlanta School of Wellness for its 200-hour program. Data were collected from their websites and the ARCB Applicant Handbook in September 2026 and are reported as published. Prices change, so confirm details with each school.
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